GIVEAWAY: The Mage and the Magpie by Austin J. Bailey

When I began editing fiction last year, I asked myself if it was possible to review a work I’d edited and remain unbiased. A friend told me that it wasn’t, so I told myself I couldn’t review things on Amazon or other sites selling the books I’d worked on.

However, after more consideration, I don’t really see anything wrong with writing about a book’s release on my own blog and giving some brief thoughts on the book with the disclaimer that I was paid to edit the book.

The book, which is Austin’s debut novel, is a fantasy adventure geared for middle-grade readers. The Mage and the Magpie is about twelve-year-old Brinley, who is roused from sleep one night by a loud gong that only she can hear. The bell eventually leads her to the land of Aberdeen, which is in great distress over the disappearance of the Magemother, the mother of the elemental mages that keep the world in balance.

During her adventure, she meets Prince Hugo of the kingdom of Caraway and Tabitha, a young birdkeeper at the Magisterium, where students train in the art of magic. Together they embark on a quest to find the Magemother, meeting new friends and old enemies along the way.

I have a special place in my heart for fantasy books, and The Mage and the Magpie was a true delight to work on. Brinley is a wonderful character, and if I had to point to another character to compare her to it would be Lyra Belacqua from His Dark Materials. With mages and witches and magical creatures, Aberdeen is a world you’ll love exploring with Brinley as she tries to figure out how she ended up in another world and why it needs the Magemother to return.

To help celebrate Austin’s release, he’s given me a book to give away, woohoo! Those of you with e-readers or smart phones can enter to win a free copy of The Mage and the Magpie below. To enter, simply comment below and tell me what you think of the book’s cover and then log your entry into the Rafflecopter widget (you must log it in or it won’t count!). Additional entry methods are available as well. Winner will be drawn at random. Good luck!